- #1
Pharrahnox
- 106
- 0
I am guessing that it is easier to produce that way, and gives it more flexibilty. Are these the reasons for wires being mafe of many thin threads, and are there other reasons? Does it allow for better heat dissipation?
Do you mean this for DC or low frequency (50-60 Hz).Studiot said:Charge resides on the outside of a conductor.
Stranded conductors have more 'outside' than inside. Technically they have a greater surface area to volume ratio.
So you require less copper to carry the same current.
nasu said:Do you mean this for DC or low frequency (50-60 Hz).
Maybe you have in mind the high frequency circuits, where indeed the current is limited to a thin layer. For low frequency circuits the current is quite uniformly distributed over the cross section. There is some surface charge distribution (static), but how would it relate to the maximum current carried by the wire?
On the other hand, the larger surface area of the stranded wires may result in a better cooling. The maximum current allowed for a given cross section may be actually higher. I did not find some data yet.
Pharrahnox said:I am guessing that it is easier to produce that way, and gives it more flexibilty. Are these the reasons for wires being mafe of many thin threads, and are there other reasons? Does it allow for better heat dissipation?
Quine! said:why doesn't charge only flow along the surface of the conducting wires in low frequency AC circuits? Intro to E & M teaches you that the E-field inside a conductor must always be zero (at least in an electrostatic configuration), so why does this change in (certain) electrodynamic cases?
256bits said:
This behavior is distinct from that of direct current which usually will be distributed evenly over the cross-section of the wire.
Quine! said:Cool, this does explain the relationship between an AC's frequency, and the current density throughout the wire.
I suppose I have a more general question as well. The above wikipedia article states that
So more generally, why would (direct) current be evenly distributed throughout a wire, and not merely just flowing along the surface?
Pharrahnox said:I am guessing that it is easier to produce that way, and gives it more flexibilty. Are these the reasons for wires being mafe of many thin threads, and are there other reasons? Does it allow for better heat dissipation?
Wires are made of many thin threads because it allows for better conduction of electricity. Thin threads have a larger surface area compared to a single thick wire, which allows for a greater flow of electrons and therefore better conductivity.
Wires are made by drawing metal rods through a series of dies, which compress the metal and stretch it into thin wires. This process is repeated multiple times to achieve the desired thickness and strength of the wire.
Wires can be made from a variety of materials including copper, aluminum, steel, and various alloys. The material used depends on the specific application and desired properties of the wire.
Some wires are coated or insulated to protect against corrosion, prevent short circuits, and provide safety for handling. The coating or insulation also helps to maintain the electrical properties of the wire and prevent any loss of conductivity.
Yes, wires made of thin threads can handle high voltages as long as they are made from materials with high electrical resistance, such as copper or aluminum. The thin threads allow for better heat dissipation, which helps to prevent damage to the wire at high voltages.